Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-04
SOCIETIES OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoK,
The Second Annual State Convention at
st. Albans--The New Officers.
From the Messenger

From The MessengerJ
The Christian Endeavor societies of the
State of Vermont met at the Congrega.
tional church here on Tuesday afternoon,
by their delegates, for the second annual
convention. The first meeting took shape
as social half hour, with Rev. J. l..
Sewall in charge.
Prof. Perkins, president Of the State or
ganzation then took charge and Ben
jamin Swift of Burlington was appointed
secretary of the convention, he having
served in that position since the departure
of the regularly elected officer. Mr. II. +.
Bentley welcomed the delegates in behalf
OF the st. Adams societies and in behalf
of the st. Adams people. He believed
firmly in the efficacy of the Christian En-
deavor society to win the young to Christ
Secretary Swift then made report of
the general condition of the work in Yer.
mont, There are now G5 societies in the
State, instead of the 40 reported at the last
convention. In the AZ societies from which
he had heard there are 2341 members ac-
tive and associate. Six societies report
more associate than active members, and
three have no associate members. Nine
societies are composed of members from
different churches. The Congregational
Christian Endeavor society OF st. Adams
leads the rest in membership, reporting %
active members and "a associate. The
work generally throughout the State il
nourlshng, and encouraging results have
| been attained.
Following this were two minute reports
from local societies. In the evening half
hour YVES given to devotional exercises
President Perkins announced in accord
ance with vote taken at the afternoon
session, the following committees
On Nominations-Mr Van Patten, Dea-
con Hewitt, Mrs. Pease of Hartford, Rev
q. A, Smith Of ST. Adams, w. n. Blan-
chard of Peacham.
On Finance-F. |. butcher of St. Adams.
B. Swift OF burlington, Miss Bigelow OF
Waitsfield, Miss Haven of Vergennes, L.
j. Barton of Johnson.
On Resolutions-Rev. Mr.. Wild of Char
lotte Rev. G. w. Clark OF Georgia, Rev.
MIR. Harris of South Hero, Rev MIR. Rob
bins of North Ferrisburgh, Mr.. Rogers OF
Burlington.
a telegram from the president of the
Connecticut Christian Endeavor Union at
Hartford was read, extending traterna,
greetings to the Vermont organization.
The convention Immediately authorized
President Perkins to send the greetings OF
this convention to the Connecticut union,
and also to the New York State Endeavor
, societies
Rev DR.. Halves was then introduced
and made forcible address. He said he
was Slau tndI tneSe societies were multi
plying so rapidly. He referred to the Or
8 ganization as safeguard, an offset to the
various methods taken by Satan to poi
son the hearts of the young. He tav-
ored organization among the young for
their own spiritual profit; the family cir
Gle, Notwithstanding its security and de-
f lights, is'not large enough, and che young
are drawn to something else.
Rev. Dr. Lamson of st. Johnsbury was
the next speaker, and his central thought
. ,..t e..
lied in Gods word and could DC found
only there.
The convention then adjourned til.
, morning.
The convention began It's work We'd
ne.day with devotional meeting at Q
ID. Bryant of Hartford then took up the
question How can the society be most
eifectually extended over the State 2" The
calling committees of local societies can
do good deal also in this line by person
, al effort, and by the distribution of papers.
, Make your society an ideal one so that it
will create elsewhere a desire for just
such organizations. A general discussion
-; of the topic ensued, and a central thought
brought out was that no society should
be started in the hope of achieving success
without the hearty cooperation of the
1 pastor of the church.
, Rev. Mr.. Fisk of Waitsfield opened
talk about the work of the lookout COM
lnltCee ne louCheu mainly ON the at
tendance at the weekly prayer meetings,
and the especial matter of the consecra-
ton meetings.
, In'the absence of Rev. Mr. Carter of
Burlington, Raw. DR.. Halves opened the
discussion on the work of the prayer meet
ing committee. This prayer meeting is
one of the chief elements of the 80
ciety work. 1t is hard thing for a young
Christian to get out of the region of self
: consciousness and avoid fear of criti
cism but people who have the gift of ut
terance in prayer are not always the best
prayers. He thought more conscience in
, IN the work OF these several committees
was needed. Here followed discussion
of both the foregoing questions.
In the afternoon, after devotional eXer-
cises, the reports of the committees were
heard. The committee on finance report
ed, recommending a contribution to the
convention treasury from each society of
an amount equal TO four cents per mem
bar to defray expenses. This was accept
ed.
At this point a telegram of fraternai
greeting from the New York Christian
Endeavor convention at Rochester was
read.
The committee on resolutions submitted
a report. which was accepted by IA rising
vote. 1t recognized the divine seal of
favor rs set upon these societies tor the
spiritual profit Of the young urged per
sonal and persistent labor in this behalf,
bers to the work IN hand returned thanks
to the Christian Endeav0r societies of st.
Adams and to the people of the village for
the hospitable welcome accorded the dele
gates, and to the ngregational people
for the use OF their church.
The report of the committee on nomina-
tons was as follows, submitted by Mr..
Van Patten For president, Rev j. L.
Sewall of Milton: vice presidents, Rev. >.
} !. Briant of Hartford, Rev. q II II Jobins
of North Ferrisburgh and Rev. George A.
Smith of st. Albans secretary and treas
urer, +. j. Burdck of Burlington.
Prof. Perkins, the retiring president,
made u few remarks. thanking the con
vention for courtesies extended to him
during his term of office.
Interesting reports from the Saratoga
convention were then made 10y Mrs. Pease
of Hartford and Rev. Mr. Sewall of Mil
ton, both of whom rehearsed the good
things enjoyed there by the delegates,